West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-27
PLUCKED GEESE.
In the last issue we said:

In the last issue we said:
A tariff is a tax upon foreign arti-
cles imported into this country.
When levied tor the purpose of rails
ing revenue for the government it is
called a revenue tariff. When i'm
posed for the purpose Of aiding in
dividuals it is called 4 protective
tariff.
We are m favor of the first; to
the latter we are unalterably OPP
posed. Never with our consent shall
a tax be laid for the purpose of aid
inc certain individuals at the ex-
pense of the balance of the cOmmu-
nifty.
The Supreme Court of the United
States presents the same principle.
II has decided that bonds issued by
a town to aid manufacturing enter
prise are VOID. The court say
that raising a tax topay such bonds
is depriving one citizen or class of
citizens Of property for the benefit
of others. That is exactly the OBJ
lection, Of those who understand the
matter to tariff for protection. As
soon as the subject becomes under
stood; as soon as the geese realize
the plucking of indirect taxation,
there will be a universal cry for tar
lift reform that sophistry and subsi-
DIV cannot resist.
In 20 Wallace, (Loan Association
VS.. Topeka) Justice Miller says;
To Law with one hand the power of
the Government on the property of
citizen, and with the other hand be-
stow that property upon favored in
dividuals to aid aprivate enterprise
and build up private fortunes, is
none the less ROBBERY because done
under the forms of law. 1t is none
the less robbery because called tax
alton. tits not taxation. a tax,
is sum of money assessed against
q citizen or his property by Govern
ment for the use Of Government.
Taxes are charges to raise money for
PUBLIC purposes. There can be no
lawful tax which is not laid for
public purpose. 1t may not be
easy in all cases to draw the line be-
tween q public purpose and a pri-
waite purpose, but tax To aid any
class of manufacturers is not tax for
public purpose. If it be said that
q benefit results to the local public
by establishing manufactures in a
town. the same may be said of any
other business which employs labor
or capital. The inkeeper the mer-
chant. the banker are promoters of
the public good and equally deserve
The aid of the citizens by forced con-
trihution. No line can be drawn in
favor of the manufacturer which
would not open the public treasury
CD thc opportunities of other enter
prisys.
Here, then, is the opinion of the
sworn expounders of the Constitu
ton. Il shows how clear the truth
is. when not obscured by political
bias or selfish prejudice. This opin-
ION was rendered in 1874 and eight
years afterwards was fully approved
10y the court in Parkersburg against
Brown. los L. 5. The court say:
Taxation to pay bonds issued by
a town TO aid manufacturers is not
taxation for public purpose. It's
taxation which takes the private
property of one man for the private
use of another man.
If this principle. announced by
the hgest court in the land, is COR
rect. how can it be restricted to
torn taxations If the citizens of
Topeka cannot be taxed to aid
manufacturer in Topeka, by what
rule can you tax all the farmers of
Kansas to aid the private enter